Why Is My Internet Slow?
The usual causes of a slow connection, and how to find yours with a quick speed test.
Quick answer: most slowdowns come down to Wi-Fi signal, network congestion at busy times, a device or router that needs a restart, or throttling. A speed test, run both wired and over Wi-Fi, tells you which.
Common causes
- Weak Wi-Fi signal - distance, walls and interference. Test near the router vs where it is slow.
- Network congestion - everyone online at peak evening hours slows shared connections.
- Too many devices - streaming, downloads and updates competing for bandwidth.
- Router needs a restart - the simplest and most common fix.
- Throttling or data cap - some plans slow down after a limit.
- An old router or device - older hardware caps your speed regardless of plan.
How to diagnose it with a speed test
- Test on Wi-Fi where it is slow. Note the numbers.
- Test next to the router. Much faster? It is a Wi-Fi coverage problem.
- Test wired (or near the router). If this matches your plan, your line is fine and Wi-Fi is the bottleneck.
- Test at different times. Slow only in the evening points to congestion.
If a wired test is consistently far below your plan's speed at all hours, the issue is likely your line or provider, worth a support call.
Quick fixes to try
Restart the router; move it to a central, open spot; use the 5 GHz band for nearby devices; close heavy apps; and update old equipment. Re-run a speed test after each change so you can see what actually helped.